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Friday, March 22, 2013

The timing is incredible. A failure in the chlorination system forcing thousands of Saint Johners to boil their water all weekend and the news came on World Water Day.Nancy Moar from the City's Communications Department tells CHSJ News people in Millidgeville are being asked to conserve their water.

She says residents in Millidgeville will be accessing their water through a chlorinated storage tank but they are asking them to limit their usage over the weekend.

Two clear tests 24 hours apart are needed before a boil water order can be lifted.

Moar says it possible testing could begin Saturday night meaning the earliest it could be lifted is Monday. For more info on the boil water order, click here

Representatives from Common Causes, the Council of Canadians, and other activist groups gatheredin King square this afternoon to protest the possibility of a public private partnership for the city's water utility.

Former Mayor Ivan Court was in attendance as the activists chanted and played drums. He tells CHSJ News P3 wasn't the only option when council examined the issue before and he doesn't understand why that has changed.Court says the new federal budget indicates there is a billion dollars available in the Canada Fund to help finance the water project. It's widely predicted that Council will decide to go ahead with the application on Monday evening's meeting.

People who criticized the previous common council's decision to build a multi-million dollar justice complex in the middle of a economic recession might have more fodder for their complaints now that the contractor who built Peel Plaza is filing a 7 million dollar lawsuit over claims of unpaid work.Former mayor and current councillor Shirley McAlary tells CHSJ News some cost overruns are to be expected in any major project, particularly when changes were made to the original work order.McAlary says the claims need to be better investigated because at this point it could be either the contractor's fault or the city's.

It's that time of year again when you light candles or sit in the dark for an hour joining the global movement that is Earth Hour.

It's aim is to draw attention to the large impact a small action can have if millions of people participate.

More than 680 employees of the City are being encouraged to take part between 830 and 930 tomorrow night. Sustainable Saint John and its 35 member businesses are also taking part.

Earthhour.org says more than 70 per cent of the world's CO2 emissions is generated by cities.

A "Lights Out" walk around Lily and Fisher Lakes in Rockwood Park is coming up tomorrow.Participants are asked to meet at the Interpretation Centre at 815pm.

The first Earth Hour was held in Sydney, Australia back in 2007 involving 2.2 million and 2100 businesses. It has grown to include 7000 cites and towns in a 152 countries across the globe switching off their lights for Earth Hour.

Saint John M-P Rodney Weston is hoping to see more affordable housing built in the city because the Harper government, in the federal budget, is renewing its strategy to reduce homelessness.Weston says the focus will be on housing first because you can't do much of anything if you don't have a roof over your head.

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty releasing a stay the course or hold the line budget with tight controls on spending while still projecting a balanced budget by 2015.

Saint John M-P Rodney Weston tells CHSJ News there is money available to help pay for clean drinking water with construction of a water treatment plant on the east side. Weston says whether a deal is struck this year is in the control of the city.

He adds there will also be money available for other projects, like arenas, with the indexing of the gas tax transfer to the cites. Mayor Mel Norton has said a priority for him is to build a multiplex ice surface at Long Wharf.Fundy-Royal M-P Rob Moore says families in his riding will benefit because they won't have to pay higher taxes. Moore claims a family of four is saving 32 hundred dollars a year in tax since the Conservatives assumed power federally and he's hoping to be able to make a funding announcement on the Fundy Trail soon.

Weston takes issue with the contention that transfer payments to the province will be frozen. He argues there will be more federal money for healthcare.